Late Diallo goal secures first African win at 2026 World Cup
Manchester United winger Amad Diallo made sure than an African team secured its first three points at the ongoing FIFA 2026 World Cup as his late goal ensured that Ivory Coast defeated Ecuador 1-0 in a keenly contested Group E opener.
The game which was played at the Philadelphia Stadium witnessed a defensive stalemate for the majority of the 90 minutes with Ecuador dominating portions of the first half.
Ecuador’s endeavour tested the mettle of the Ivorians when John Yeboah and Alan Minda both came agonizingly close to scoring by striking the crossbar twice while Enner Valencia also rattled the woodwork early in the second half.
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The Ivorian bench led by Emerse Faé was forced to make tactical adjustments and the move paid off in the 90th minute of the game when Wilfried Singo made a run down the right flank and delivered a precise cut-back to substitute Amad Diallo who whipped in a clinical left footed shot to give his team a dramatic 1-0 victory.
Ivory Coast will play Germany in their next group game at the Toronto Stadium on Saturday, June 20, while Ecuador whose loss to the West African teams ends their 19-game unbeaten run will square up against minnows Curacao at the Kansas City Stadium on the same day.
